Atmospheric Pollution Vocabulary

Flashcards about Atmospheric Pollution

Air pollution

Occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances are introduced into Earth’s atmosphere.

Parts per million (ppm)

The most common form of expressing air pollutants.

Primary Pollutants

Emitted directly into the air.

Secondary Pollutants

Result from primary air pollutants’ reacting together and forming new pollutants.

Point source air pollution

Occurs when the contaminant comes from an obvious source.

Non-point source air pollution

Occurs when the contaminant comes from a source that is not easily identifiable or from a number of sources spread over a large, widespread area.

Criteria air pollutants

A set of eight air pollutants that cause smog, acid rain, and other health hazards and are typically emitted from many sources in the industry, mining, transportation, power generation, and agriculture.

Industrial smog

Tends to be sulfur-based and is also called gray smog.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly less dense than air and is produced from the partial oxidation of carbon-containing compounds.

Lead (Pb)

Used in building construction, lead-acid batteries for vehicles, bullets and shot fishing weights, solder, and shields for radiation; exposure to lead can occur from inhalation of polluted air and dust and from the ingestion of lead in food and/or water.

Nitrogen Oxide

A generic term for nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are produced from the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen gases in the air.

Nitrous oxide

A major air pollutant which causes ozone depletion; formed by denitrification and nitrification.

Ozone

An inorganic molecule with the chemical formula O3, and tropospheric (ground-level) ozone is a secondary air pollutant.

Peroxyacyl Nitrates (PANs)

Secondary pollutants that can move far away from their urban origin and affect the diversity of ecosystems; industrial origin; causes eye irritation, impaired immune systems, inhibited photosynthesis, reduced crop yields by damaging plant tissues, and respiratory problems.

Sulfur Dioxide

A colorless gas with a penetrating, choking odor that readily dissolves in water to form an acidic solution; emissions come from power stations, oil refineries, and large industrial plants burning fossil fuels.

Suspended particulate matter (PMx)

Microscopic solid or liquid matter suspended in Earth’s atmosphere where “x” refers to the size of the particle.

Volcanic Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure (easily evaporate) at ordinary room temperature.

Photochemical smog

Catalyzed by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, tends to be nitrogen-based, and is referred to as brown smog.

Thermal inversions

Occur when air temperature rises with height instead of falling; this effect traps pollution like smog close to the ground, which may harm human health.

“Sick building” syndrome (SBS)

A term used to describe a combination of ailments associated with an individual’s place of work or residence.

Asbestos

Is inexpensive, durable, and flexible and naturally acts as an insulating and fireproofing agent.

Formaldehyde

An organic chemical that is prevalent in the indoor environment and is a carcinogen that is linked to lung cancer.

Radon

An invisible radioactive gas that results from the radioactive decay of radium, which can be found in rock formations beneath buildings.

Catalytic converter

An exhaust emission control device that converts toxic chemicals in the exhaust of an internal-combustion engine into less harmful substances.

Acid deposition

Occurs when atmospheric chemical processes transform sulfur and nitrogen compounds and other substances into wet or dry deposits on Earth.

Dry Deposition

In dry areas, acidic chemicals in the air may become dust or smoke and stick to the ground, buildings, homes, cars, and trees, which rainstorms wash away, increasing acidic runoff.

Wet Deposition

Acid rain, fog, and snow.

Acid shock

Caused by rapid melting of snow pack with dry acidic particles, raises lake and stream acid concentrations five to ten times higher than acidic rainfall.

Urban heat islands

Occur in metropolitan areas that are significantly warmer than their surroundings.

Street Canyon

A place where the street is flanked by buildings on both sides, creating a canyon-like environment.

Noise pollution

An unwanted human-created sound that disrupts the environment.